Fight Sickness & Stay Healthy with These Indoor Air Quality Tips

March 10, 2016

Another note. Yes, another note about the sicknesses going around your kids’ school. Whooping Cough. Strep. Flu. RSV. Just looking at the words is enough to send mamas and daddies into a panic. The CDC said that RSV leads to an average of 57,527 hospitalizations among children under five each year in the US. So what can you do to help ensure your family is safe?

Understand Indoor Air Pollution

The CDC warns that poor indoor air quality can lead to lung diseases such as asthma and also cause headaches, dry eyes, and lethargy. Additionally, the American College of Allergists report that 50% of all illnesses are either caused or compounded by polluted indoor air. The Texas DSHS noted that air within homes and buildings can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air, and in severe cases, 1000 times more polluted. There are two key causes of poor indoor air quality:

So all this info – what is it for? What do you do? How can you make sure you and your children aren’t breathing contaminated, illness-inducing air?

Luckily, there are options.

Get Proactive On Air Filtration

Have you ever been irate and had to bite your tongue to keep from saying something regrettable ? That’s a filter. Have you ever used water from the refrigerator dispenser and had your thirst immediately quenched? That’s because of a filter. Filters keep toxicity in check and avoid miserable ramifications. You filter your words for peace, you filter your water for health, why wouldn’t you filter your air?

Many hospitals use a high-efficiency air filtration system called HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air), which you can invest in for your home if you have someone living there with a low immune system or someone who’s highly susceptible to illness. Even if there are no respiratory issues in your home, you’ll be extremely surprised by the almost instant change from a standard air filter to a High Efficiency system.

If you’re not sure if a high-grade air filtration system is the best system for you, there are several other options to help keep your home’s air clean. From regular air cleaners to electronic air cleaners, read below to help decide which air filtration and purification system is right for your family.

Help Control Germs With Germicidal Systems

Germi-huh? Germicidal UV Light Systems help reduce airborne biological contaminants – germs – by safely emitting high intensity UV light from within your home’s air flow system. These bacteria-destroying appliances can kill germs and even assist in stopping further germs from building up in your home. According to one study, nearly one of five people with allergies suffer from exposure to fungi and bacteria in their duct systems. A UV light device will help clean and disinfect indoor air to help you reach the highest air quality possible.

Optimize Moisture with Humidifiers or Dehumidifiers

Um, don’t those two things do literally the opposite of each other? Why would I want one over the other? For home comfort, suggested humidity levels are between 35% and 50%. Too much humidity can cause microbes, condensation and even wood damage. Too little humidity can result in itchy skin, sinus ailments, splitting wood and sore throats. Depending on where you live, you most likely have too much or too little humidity.

It’s practically spring and that means spring cleaning! Don’t exclude your ducts during this refreshing time. Since most of our in-home air comes through our duct system, it’s crucial to keep it from getting dirty with bacteria, mildew, and dust. When you have your ducts cleaned, ask the company to check for duct leaks, also. Leaks in the duct system can cause additional contaminants to enter your air and circulate throughout your home. Guaranteeing they are clean and maintained will help keep your air clean and your family healthy.

Increase Ventilation

With the move to become more energy-efficient, homes are often sealed tighter and insulated more thoroughly to make sure air isn’t escaping while our heating and cooling systems work to keep our home comfortable. Energy-efficiency is a great thing, but it also means a lower amount of airflow, less circulation, and reduced movement. This can cause the air to become stagnant and contaminants (indoor air pollution) are stuck inside your home’s air – the air your family breathes. An air ventilation system monitors indoor and outdoor temperatures and humidity and continuously brings the required air replacement. This can add 5% to 10% more fresh air every hour, reducing the concentration of airborne contaminants.

Get A Home Health Report

During your next air conditioning tune-up, request a complete indoor air quality report from your HVAC contractor. An expert A/C system company like Service Experts will provide a copy of your report with professional recommendations to address these and other air issues in your home.

So, yes, it’s troubling to know that your little ones are being exposed to scary respiratory diseases but next time you get that note from your kids’ school, wash their hands, cover their cough, and invest in a system to keep your indoor air quality as strong as possible.